KAPOLEI --- The Underwriters Association of Hawai‘i (UAH) donated $10,000 to the University of Hawaiʻi – West O‘ahu Risk Management and Insurance certificate program at the organization’s annual charitable golf tournament on July 26 at the Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach. Participating insurance companies and agencies donated funds that will be used for student scholarships and program development. The Risk Management and Insurance certificate program at UH West O‘ahu provides training for risk management, personal and commercial insurance professionals and prepares students for licensure examination.

“This generous donation from the Underwriters Association of Hawai‘i allows us to offer additional scholarship support to students pursuing the Risk Management and Insurance certificate program at UH West O‘ahu,” said UH West O‘ahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas. “It’s a win, win situation because our graduates go on to careers in the insurance industry where trained professionals are in high demand here and across the nation.”

“I am so pleased and proud of our local insurance industry with their generosity helping to support this program at UHWO,” said President of the Hawai‘i Independent Insurance Agents Association (HIIA) Ron McQuaid. “I can’t thank our fellow industry association, UAH, enough for their strong support and such generous donation. Being the first of its kind and only insurance certificate curriculum in Hawai‘i, this support will help ensure the growth of the program.”

UH West O‘ahu is the only university in the state to offer a Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance. The certificate program was created in partnership with Hawai‘i’s risk management and insurance industry to meet the ever-increasing demand for qualified insurance professionals, and develop the skilled professionals needed in a field that offers high starting salaries, job stability, impressive opportunities for future career growth, and a balanced lifestyle.

The Risk Management and Insurance certificate is one of many offered by UH West O‘ahu in addition to the University’s more than 25 bachelor’s degree programs. Other certificate programs include Health Care Administration, Environmental Studies, Applied Forensic Anthropology, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Substance Abuse and Addictions Studies, and the new Democratic Principles and Social Justice certificate program. For more information, call (808) 689-2900 or email uhwo.admissions@Hawaiʻi.edu

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UH West O‘ahu became a four-year, regional comprehensive university when it served its first class of freshmen in fall 2007. The University offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention at convenient locations. UH West O‘ahu serves approximately 2,000 students at its brand new, state-of-the-art campus that opened in the City of Kapolei in 2012. For more information, visit uhwo.Hawaiʻi.edu, twitter.com/uhwestoahu, facebook.com/uhwestoahu or call (808) 689-2800 or toll-free (866) 299-8656.

The Underwriters Association of Hawai‘i is a non-profit organization established in 1968 whose mission is to perpetuate education, fellowship and interaction amongst its members of insurance professionals. Every year, the UAH sponsors a charitable golf tournament and proceeds are donated to a charity of choice.

The Hawaiʻi Independent Insurance Agents Association is a non-profit trade association representing a network of independent insurance professionals across the State of Hawai‘i. The HIIA is the Hawai‘i affiliate for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) founded in 1896. The IIABA is a national alliance of 300,000 business owners and their employees who offer all types of insurance and financial services products.